If a situation is turning tense, and I do something to ease the tension, what's the right verb? Did I defuse the situation or diffuse the tension? Does it matter?
I'm fond of viz, although it's been out of vogue in the U.S. for the last 200 years or so. But recently I began working with a programming team in India, and to my delight I discovered that they use viz, at least in written communication, as much as Jefferson or Madison ever did.
I was distressed to see "viz a viz" used in place of vis-a-vis in the examples. Ugh!
Here in the Bible belt, afterglow is the time after the end of a church service and before everyone gets in their cars to go home. Almost exclusively used in small towns by ladies age 60 and above.
Comments by larry_kunz
larry_kunz commented on the word hone
Many authorities consider "hone in" to be incorrect usage. I know I do. My preference is "home in."
October 27, 2010
larry_kunz commented on the user larry_kunz
I think that Monty Python's Norwegian parrot sketch is the definitive source for this. I remember "Ring down the curtain" from that one.
June 18, 2010
larry_kunz commented on the word defuse
If a situation is turning tense, and I do something to ease the tension, what's the right verb? Did I defuse the situation or diffuse the tension? Does it matter?
May 19, 2010
larry_kunz commented on the word viz
I'm fond of viz, although it's been out of vogue in the U.S. for the last 200 years or so. But recently I began working with a programming team in India, and to my delight I discovered that they use viz, at least in written communication, as much as Jefferson or Madison ever did.
I was distressed to see "viz a viz" used in place of vis-a-vis in the examples. Ugh!
May 19, 2010
larry_kunz commented on the word Afterglow
Here in the Bible belt, afterglow is the time after the end of a church service and before everyone gets in their cars to go home. Almost exclusively used in small towns by ladies age 60 and above.
May 15, 2010